Two cheers for faster broadband

Published:13:00Saturday 12 November 2011

While I welcome the news that more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Kelso will get faster broadband connection, there is still a very long way to go and I urge Scottish Borders Council to maintain the pressure for an improved service across the whole region, rural areas as well as towns.

The economy of the Borders depends on attracting businesses, so it is vital that we have first class communications. No modern business will contemplate setting up an operation somewhere that lacks adequate broadband connection.

And 20Mb should be seen as the absolute minimum. Other parts of the world, such as South Korea, are looking at a broadband network with speeds of 1Gb.

So let’s not get carried away with BT’s self-congratulatory hype. Faster broadband in Kelso town is a start, but it is nowhere near enough.